Suicides raise a lot of feelings in the survivors. By survivors, I mean family members, friends, coworkers, and health care providers. In the event of a public figure, such as Robin Williams, this also includes the general public.
Typically there is grief, loss, and guilt. "Why did I not know he or she was feeling so bad? Why did I not do more to prevent it?"
Courtesy Wikimedia Commons/ Lucious Alexander/ Creative Commons license
Actor/comedian Robin Williams signs autographs aboard USS Enterprise in December 2003.
There is also anger, maybe or not expressed, from the family members: "How could he do this to me and/or the kids?"
From coworkers the same question, plus: "Will this reflect badly on our interactions?"
For health care workers, especially those who have taken care of the deceased: "Are my notes good enough? Will I be sued for inadequate care?"
Of course, there is always the question of "copycat" suicides, which especially trouble those in the school and correctional systems and the military.
And then we get the public reactions to the suicide of a public figure, such as Robin Williams.
So far the reactions in the media have all been laudatory about his work. Some have pointed to the need for better education about depression and addiction.
But many, including me, worry about the copycat effect. The burst of publicity and the connections to public figures who have taken their lives are concerning.
So I have my own anger about how this may contribute to other suicides, especially in younger impressionistic people.
What is the answer? No easy solutions here – other than talking about it.
Dr. Ritchie is former chief of psychiatry for the U.S. Army and current chief clinical officer in the behavioral health department for the District of Columbia.